On May 7th, 1967, Dr. Yu Lin Wang, the founder of Hungkuang, established the Hungkuang Junior College of Nursing, carrying forward his father’s legacy of medical service. On July 12th of the same year, with the support and approval of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Yu Lin Wang became the college’s first president.Guided by the school motto, “Begin from oneself, extend benevolence to all,” Hungkuang expanded its educational mission by launching new departments, including Food Science and Nutrition, Industrial Safety and Health, and Healthcare Administration. In 1991, the institution was upgraded to Hungkuang Institute of Medical and Nursing Technology and added the departments of Childcare and Education and Cosmetology in both day and night school divisions. In 1987, Dr. Nai Phon Wang became the second president of Hungkuang Junior College of Nursing. After returning from medical practice in the United States, Dr. Wang sought ways to apply his expertise to education. With support from faculty, the school transitioned from an institute to Hungkuang College of Technology, becoming the first such institution in Central Taiwan. Under his leadership, new departments were established, including Information Management, Hospitality Management, Physical Therapy, and Applied Foreign Languages. He also focused on the integration of management principles into all areas of the university to improve administrative efficiency and educational quality. In 2000, Dr. Guor Chuan Fang became the third president. He vigorously pursued university accreditation, which was achieved in 2003. This milestone was accompanied by the creation of new departments and graduate programs, such as Nursing, Biomedical Technology, Nutrition, Food Science, Cosmetic Science, Health Business Administration, Environmental Engineering, and Occupational Safety and Hazard Prevention. In 2006, the Ministry of Education awarded Hungkuang a nine-year academic excellence grant totaling NT 350 million, recognizing it as the only model institution among technological universities in Central Taiwan. In 2013, Hungkuang received the Ministry’s Award for Excellence in Business Management, the only university in Taiwan to earn this honor. In August 2014, Dr. Cong Neng Wu became the fourth president. During his tenure, he strengthened health-related programs by establishing the Doctoral Nursing Program, the Post-Baccalaureate Nursing Program, the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, and the Bachelor’s Degree Program in Animal Healthcare. From August 2016 to January 2017, Vice President Hung Yee Shu served as Acting President. Under his leadership, the university received the Taiwan Foundation for Sustainable Energy’s “Top 50 Corporate Sustainability Report – Nonprofit Gold Award” among other accolades. In February 2017, Dr. Yueh Guey Huang became the fifth president. In her inaugural speech, she pledged to continue and build upon Hungkuang’s tradition of excellence. Dr. Huang aims to enhance the global competitiveness of students by strengthening foreign language education and aligning with the government’s New Southbound Policy. Today, Hungkuang University has five colleges: the College of Nursing, the College of Medical and Health Care, the College of Human Science and Social Innovation, the College of International Hospitality and Tourism, and the College of Intelligent Technology. These colleges support 22 departments, seven graduate institutes, and one doctoral program, with approximately 11,320 students enrolled. The university also operates three affiliated preschools, which became nonprofit institutions in the 2022 academic year, and manages two additional preschools under delegated administration: Renmei Nonprofit Preschool in Taichung City and Qiaotou Nonprofit Preschool in Yunlin County. In the post-pandemic era, Hungkuang University has intensified its focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and sustainable development. The university is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction, and fulfilling its social responsibilities. These efforts have been recognized with several national and international awards for sustainability, including five consecutive years of the National Environmental Protection Award. Upholding its founding mission, Hungkuang University continues to innovate in response to societal needs and emerging trends, steadily progressing toward becoming a leading institution in medical, health, and public welfare technology. |
